Neurological Disorders - Pins & Needles in Feet & Legs

Author

Pins & Needles in Feet & Legs

Don

2004-10-03, 10:17 pm

I am suffering from pins and needle like feelings in my feet and lower legs
(and sometimes in my hands and arms too) but most predominant in my feet and
lower legs.

My doctor did a lower spine x-ray and says he thinks it is being caused from
a pinched nerve in my lower back. He put me on 300 mg of Neurontin 3 times
daily. This helps a great deal but I still suffer and worry a lot that my
condition is going to get worse due to a diagnosis of mild disk
degeneration.

I'm wondering is anyone else has or has had this condition. What advice can
anyone offer besides the medication that I am on.

L Alpert

2004-10-03, 10:17 pm

Don wrote:
> I am suffering from pins and needle like feelings in my feet and
> lower legs (and sometimes in my hands and arms too) but most
> predominant in my feet and lower legs.
>
> My doctor did a lower spine x-ray and says he thinks it is being
> caused from a pinched nerve in my lower back. He put me on 300 mg of
> Neurontin 3 times daily. This helps a great deal but I still suffer
> and worry a lot that my condition is going to get worse due to a
> diagnosis of mild disk degeneration.
>
> I'm wondering is anyone else has or has had this condition. What
> advice can anyone offer besides the medication that I am on.

I have the same issue in my left arm. The problem for is calcium deposits
in the nerve canal at c5-6 on my left side. I had some swelling and I
couldn't even move my arm. Ended up taking prednisone for awhile, but what
has helped the most is that I lost 30 pounds (I went from 215 to 185 on my
5'9" frame and started exercising). My neck size went down 1 1/2", and the
channel seems to have more clearance now (CAT scan).

My only option for permanent relief now is disk removal, but there are less
invasive devices being explored now that can take care of this less
invasively without removing the disk by some medical device companies (I
should know, I work for one of 'em). Also, there are from what I
understand, at least 3 prosthesis discs in some form of clinical trials.

Here is a European one
http://www.alphaklinik.com/disc-prosthesis.html
http://www.spine-surgery.com/SSPSC/...entsurgery2.htm

More European info
http://www.artificialdisc.com/europe.htm

News of a US clinical trial, data should be available soon
http://www.spine-health.com/researc...scupdate01.html

It is a just little ways off in the US, it seems.......

I would recommend that if you can afford to lose weight, to do so. It will
help (as well as relieve stress on the disks).

I did a study about 2 years ago, and out of 60+ responses for those that
have had spinal surgery to remove discs, +65% were not happy with the
results, 40% went back for at least one more surgery (removing disc), +20%
went back for multiple surgeries. One guy had a spine that was essentially
jelly.

About 12% said they would do it again, another 30% weren't sure, and the
rest said no, they wouldn't.

Not great odds, as far as I can see.

Phil Pereira

2004-10-03, 10:17 pm

Have your blood sugar checked, and have your doctor check to see if you
may have any autoimmune disorders. I have these symptoms too, and the
neuropathy from high blood sugar is quite painful. Neurontin combined
with Nortriptyline (Pamelor is one brand name) control the pain fairly
well. My doctor thinks this results more from autoimmune problems than
high blood sugar.

Phil

Don wrote:
> I am suffering from pins and needle like feelings in my feet and lower legs
> (and sometimes in my hands and arms too) but most predominant in my feet and
> lower legs.
>
> My doctor did a lower spine x-ray and says he thinks it is being caused from
> a pinched nerve in my lower back. He put me on 300 mg of Neurontin 3 times
> daily. This helps a great deal but I still suffer and worry a lot that my
> condition is going to get worse due to a diagnosis of mild disk
> degeneration.
>
> I'm wondering is anyone else has or has had this condition. What advice can
> anyone offer besides the medication that I am on.
>
>
>
>

R.A. \Red\ Lawhern

2004-10-03, 10:17 pm

Don wrote:
> I am suffering from pins and needle like feelings in my feet and lower legs
> (and sometimes in my hands and arms too) but most predominant in my feet and
> lower legs.
>
> My doctor did a lower spine x-ray and says he thinks it is being caused from
> a pinched nerve in my lower back. He put me on 300 mg of Neurontin 3 times
> daily. This helps a great deal but I still suffer and worry a lot that my
> condition is going to get worse due to a diagnosis of mild disk
> degeneration.
>
> I'm wondering is anyone else has or has had this condition. What advice can
> anyone offer besides the medication that I am on.
>
>
>
>
It might be well for you to seek a second opinion from a neurologist.
In online support work that I do with chronic face pain patients, I have
also spoken with a number of people who were dealing (as you might be)
with symptoms of peripheral neuropathy. A number of varied conditions
can be involved in these symptoms, and not all of them are structural to
the spine.

Regards and well wishes,

R.A."Red" Lawhern, Ph.D.
http://www.lawhern.org
"Giving Something Back"